Does great art require solitude? Frieze New York show explores Bettina Grossman's isolation

An article explores the significance of solitude in artistic creation, highlighting Bettina Grossman's upcoming exhibition at Frieze New York. Born in Brooklyn, Grossman resided in room 503 of the Chelsea Hotel from 1972 until her passing in 2021 at the age of 94. Her artwork, which includes aerial photographs of urban life categorized into typologies, was produced during her self-imposed isolation. The piece also compares her to other solitude-appreciating artists, such as Celia Paul, whose first New York show in over ten years, 'Innervisions,' is at Gladstone gallery until June 13. Paul has maintained a solitary existence in her top-floor London flat since the early 1980s. Tracey Emin expressed in a podcast the necessity of solitude for clarity, while Agnes Martin, whose works are permanently exhibited at Dia Beacon, emphasized that a clear mind, achievable only through solitude, is essential for inspiration. The article traces the solitary artist concept back to Giorgio Vasari's 'Lives of the Artists' (1550), which celebrated Michelangelo's love for solitude and recognized Raphael's collaborative spirit. It concludes that the extremes of solitude and self-sufficiency will continue to be part of some artists' experiences. Frieze New York is scheduled for May 13-17.